Social Stories

[Guest guest]

Ok...I have a topic that I really would like some input about. I was a

special education teacher for 13 years and I resigned my position

recently because I found the stress to be amazingly difficult.

My former principal felt I was not doing a good job since some of my

students would become agitated and occasionally scream disrupting the

classes around us. I said that is what happens sometimes. She said I

was too accepting of such behavior. Then she asked where are the kids

social stories. She had me writing social stories constantly. One

student could speak English, but when he was upset he could only

respond in Spanish. One student had such a strong intelligence that a

social story was insulting to him. He had figured out that the story

was because he was doing " something wrong " . When I explained this to

her she just thought I was not wanting to spend hours after school

writing these out.

I just felt my efforts were used better by using other techniques to

help these students. As a parent of 4 children and 3 with ASD. Plus,

all of my training in Autism and Special Education, I felt I had an

expertise. Very few parents put picture schedules up and the kids

figure out pretty quickly it is a control device. I see the use but

many educators think this is a " one size fits all " approach to

educating children with ASD. I feel every kid is different and as a

parent I was starting to resent how people looked at my students. The

parents of my students loved me and felt supported since I know how

they feel.

How do all of you feel about social stories? Am I being defensive? I

have to say I do believe in using pictures to educate but having this

pure rote behavior seems insensitive. I feel like these educators do

not think that children with Autism have feelings or cannot think for

themselves. I am tired of Austism Awareness, how about some

understanding that these kids are people.

Thanks for listening.

Sincerely,

Teresia